Ball-bearing rail



Dec. 13, 1927.

M. SNEE BALL BEARING RAIL Filed April 27, 1927 1 INVENTOR: M2 chael 5/7 1 v v v -'A TTORNE YS'.

Patented Dec. 13, 1927.

i l 1,652,461 PATENT? @Fi-Fics. l

M CHAEL snnnonnos ANGELES, CALIFORNIA.

BALL-BEARING RAIL. Y

' Application file d April 27,-1927.- Serial 110.18684-0.

This invention relates to ball bearing rails, and particularly to a type of rail such as is used an railroad tracks;

is --so constituted and constructed as to reduce thefriction between said rails and the rolling stock, particularly at curves in .said rails. V j I Another object is the provision of a rail which permits the rollingstocktorunquietl and likewise lessens the tendency of the =wheels-of the rolling stock to leave the rails;

Fhe inventor has found by calculation that on ordinary railways, equipped'with ordinary sized gauge or rails and ordinary sized ear-wheels, that thc resistance on a 10 curve is approximately fortypercent or the gross weight ofthe train, and for a 5 curve twentjpercenti Iti-s with the idea of overcoming this resistance to an appreciable degree that the present invention is directed.

Other objects include simplicity of manufacture, generaleconomies in use and practice, ease of maintenance, and great durability and efliciency in actual use and service.

Vith the above and other objects in view,

the invention consists in the novel and use ful provision, formation, construction, association and interrelation of parts, members and features, all as shown in certain embodiments in the accompanying drawing, described generally, and more particularly pointed out in the claims,

In the drawing:

Fig. l is an end elevation. of a car whee resting upon a rail, the said rail incorporat 7 an embodiment of the invention.

'ing the invention;

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary side elevation, partly in section, illustrating the'construction of the improved rail;

Fig. 3 is a plan .view of the showing ofv Fig. 2; V

Fig. 4 is a plan view of a curved rail; and Fig. 5 is a plan view of certain means used in practising the invention.

Corresponding parts'in all the figures are designated by the same reference characters; Referring now with particularity to the drawing, the improved device is designated as an entirety by A, the same including a rail a and anti-friction means Z), both of which elements may be used in practising is conventional inform, including the usual head 1, web 2, and flange 3. The head of the rail, and along a side thereof, is formed with T he invention hasfor-anob gectthe provision of arall which The rail.

a longitudinal curved groove 4. Adaptedto be plac d within thesaideroove is the anti- "frictiona'i'iezins b, whichin the present instance constitutes one or more roller bear- .ings 5. The curvec groove is constructeo soas to in part encircle. the ,roller bearings 5, and .yet permit. said rollergbearings t0 havea portion ofthe "periphery thereof pro ected"outwardly "from. the side face 6 .of the Any convenient method may be utilized in. the forming of. the groove such asby boring .orcasting. The distance. of projection ofzthe. (rol er head. 1, as shown at 7.

wheel contacts with the s ide of the rail head.

It would be obvious that smoother running and less noise would result, and the different bearing-members could be lubricated in the same manner that rails are now oiled at curved portions. InFig. 3a straight "length of rail is shown. with the bearing members, and such construction tends to save wear andtear on the heads of the rails,

inns as the wheel revolves upon therail, the.

andlikewise the flange of the wheels, due to jolting motionscaused by side winds against the rolling stock, or unevenness of the tracks or roadbed- Likewise, vibration is to-an extent overcome in the rolling stock. Less friction between thewheels and the rails will likewise result in asaving in power, with the consequence that running time is lessened between two points, and the resultant expense of the haul would therefore be likewise lessened. V I r In order to overcome backlash, I have provided some type of resilient means, such .as coil springs 11, which coil springs are adjacent the ends of each lengtl1:of rail, and engage the roller members. 'These coil springs tend to maintain the diiferentroller members in engagement, but it is evident that contact of the flange of the wheel with said roller members will tend to move them 7 of the rollers in order that no depression will occur at these zones. Consequently, the rollers will not be subjected to sudden shock when the flange of the wheel oi the rolling stock contacts therewith. l urthern'iore, the coil springs permit the rollers to rotate, due to the give or the resilient mounting afforded thereby for the said rollers within the groove. The roove is preferably of greater diaineter than the diameter of the rollers, that the rollers may be easily inserted within the groove, and likewise so that the rollers Will readily rotate. The rollers may he formed from various materials, such as toughened steel.

It is obvious that various changes and modifications and variations may he made in practising the invention in departure from the particular showing of the drawing, without departing from the true spirit thereof. Having thus disclosed my invention, I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent: 1. In a rail, roller members within said rail, and projecting outwardly from a surface of said rail, and resilient means for maintaining said roller members in contact.

In a rail, anti-friction means projecting in part beyond a surface oi said rail, and means permitting saidanti-friction means to move in one directionunder applied stress,

ill)

and to restore said anti-friction means to a selected position when said applied stress is relieved.

In a rail having the usual head, said head being formed with a longitudinal groove, roller members within said groove and projecting in part through said groove and beyond a surface of the head, said rail adjacent an end of the said roove being substantially flush with the trout of the roller members.

In testimony whereof, I have signed my name to this specification.

MICHAEL SNEE. 

